He said:“They have to revoke the reform, then we can have a proper debate and make serious suggestions, acceptable to all; or they can call a referendum, that’s what we are waiting for, then all of France can have a vote.”

There are signs that the rail strike is beginning to run out of steam.

French Railways SNCF said that 20 percent of its staff failed to turn up to work on Thursday, down from 25 percent on Wednesday.

Almost all international trains have been running and half of the country’s domestic services are back on track.